How spinal cord stimulation changes brain connections in chronic pain
Brain Connectivity Changes with Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Resting State NIRS/EEG Study
Using harmless brain recordings (near-infrared light and EEG), researchers will look at how spinal cord stimulation affects brain connections in people with chronic neuropathic back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11353049 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will have noninvasive resting-state brain recordings using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EEG before, during, and after spinal cord stimulation. The study enrolls two groups: people trying an SCS trial for the first time and long-term SCS users who have had a device for six months or more. Researchers will compare brain connectivity patterns to look for signals that link SCS to pain relief. The goal is to find a brain signature that might explain who benefits from SCS and why.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are veterans with refractory chronic neuropathic back pain who are either undergoing an SCS trial or have had an implanted SCS device for at least six months.
Not a fit: People with non-neuropathic pain types, unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, or who cannot undergo EEG/fNIRS recordings may not benefit or qualify for this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict which patients will get meaningful pain relief from spinal cord stimulation and guide treatment choices.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown that chronic pain and SCS can change brain connectivity, but using combined resting-state fNIRS and EEG to produce reliable biomarkers for predicting SCS response remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pundik, Svetlana — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pundik, Svetlana
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.